DisneylandForward is what the Walt Disney company is calling their plans to expand the Disneyland Resort. The company has held multiple coffee chats with the local community members to give a broad overview of the plans and to try to get support and approval for the plans that could add multiple rides, attractions, restaurants and more to land Disney already owns in Anaheim, California.
What is critical in order for Disney to be able to move forward with DisneylandForward is for the city of Anaheim to grant Disney’s request to change the way they can use their existing space. The Disney company wants to be able to use their existing land for multiple uses, such as hotels, restaurants and rides all in the same space, and much of the space they want to use currently exists in the form of parking lots.
Mock ups of what the Disneyland resort could look like if the plans are approved have been submitted to the city of Anaheim, and now we can see them too. The biggest takeaway is that it clearly looks like Disney wants to turn the parking lot areas around The Disneyland Hotel and the Paradise Pier hotel in a theme park. This could mean that there would be a third theme park, or it could mean an expansion of each of the currently existing theme parks, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure (DCA), with the Disneyland expansion being between the Mickey and Friends parking structure and the Disneyland Hotel, and the possible DCA expansion being between the Disneyland Hotel and surrounding the Paradise Pier hotel.
One thing that we think would be amazing about this expansion, besides the obvious addition of attractions and things to do and see, is that the new theme park areas would be adjacent to and surrounding two of the current Disney hotels.
Currently, the Disney Grand Californian hotel is the only on-site Disney hotel that is directly connected to a theme park. While the Paradise Pier hotel has an entrance to DCA, it is not as ideal as it could be since the hotel is located across the street from the theme park. Meanwhile the Disneyland Hotel is located further from the entrance to both theme parks than many off-site hotels located directly across from the resort on Harbor Blvd. This expansion would change that, most likely providing guests at the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier hotel with private entrances to the new or expanded theme parks. That would be a major perk!
In addition to this expansion, DisneylandForward also hopes to change the use of the existing Toy Story parking lot located south of the Disneyland resort. Currently, guests who park at this parking lot have access to a free bus that will take them to the theme park entrance, but in the future, this parking lot could become a shopping and dining area, possibly with a theater that could host Broadway-style shows. This would be a major perk for guests who choose to stay off-site since there would be more convenient attractions within walking distance.
Again, it’s important to keep in mind that these plans are all still very tentative since Anaheim has yet to give Disney approval to move forward with DisneylandForward, but it’s fun to think about. Also highly tentative is what exact rides, attractions and themed lands the new areas could possibly contain; however, Disney has provided examples that are pretty exciting to think about!
According to Disney, a Disneyland expansion could mean the addition of lands including a Frozen-themed land where guests would enter Arendelle. It could also include a Tangled themed land and a Peter Pan themed land. Meanwhile, DCA could include a Toy Story land and a Zootopia land in addition to the TRON coaster.
While these themed lands would be amazing additions to the Anaheim resort, it is far from set in stone. Disney could decide to create different lands than the ones mentioned. For example, maybe they would create lands and rides that currently don’t exist in any of their other theme parks around the world, like how Cars Land only exists at DCA.
What themed lands would you want to see added to the Disneyland resort? Do you think Disney should add a third theme park or expand the two existing parks? Do you think Disney will eventually gain approval to move forward with Disneyland Forward?